The British government has finally given the go-ahead to a third runway for London’s Heathrow airport – hailed as evidence a post-Brexit Britain is ‘open for business.’ Coming after decades of indecision, it’s hoped the new $22 billion runway will maintain Heathrow’s place as Europe’s leading airport hub.

CCTV’s Richard Bestic reports on a project that remains high on controversy.

Heathrow expansion project faces protests after Parliament's approval

Heathrow expansion project faces protests after Parliament's approval

The British government has finally given the go-ahead to a third runway for London’s Heathrow airport – hailed as evidence a post-Brexit Britain is ‘open for business.’ Coming after decades of indecision, it’s hoped the new $22 billion runway will maintain Heathrow’s place as Europe’s leading airport hub. CCTV’s Richard Bestic reports on a project that remains high on controversy.

Outside the British Parliament protesters rail against the government’s decision.

A third runway, they said, will be catastrophic, adding to noise and air pollution levels already above legal limits.

The decision on Heathrow comes after years of discussion and a $30 million public inquiry.

Gatwick Airport was the main challenger for additional runway space out lost out to the much richer and busier Heathrow.

Britain’s Transport Minister said it was an important post-Brexit moment.

For others in government, though, the price is too high.

“Building the third runway slap bang in the middle of the Western suburb in the greatest city on earth is not the right thing to do. No other world city would dream of subjecting so many 100’s of thousands of people to more noise pollution in the way that the third runway would,” U.K. Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson said.